Coach Chesswick
Hi Alejandro!
Your recent games show an energetic, initiative-driven style that already brought you to . Below you will find an objective summary of what is working well and a few concrete, high-impact tweaks that can lift you to the next level.
What’s working
- Fast development & castling: Every win in the sample begins with you completing development and securing your king before move 10. Keep that discipline!
- Piece activity: Positions such as 26.Qg7# in the win vs. masteringchessdra show that you rarely miss a chance to bring all your pieces to the attack.
- Converting extra material: In technical wins (e.g. vs. Ignacio Fernandez Mazzetti) you simplified smoothly and avoided counterplay—excellent endgame instincts.
Key growth areas
-
Pawn pushes on the kingside
• Loss vs. levente_k shows g-pawn + h-pawn advances left dark squares (g3–f4–e5) weak.
→ Before pushing flank pawns, ask “Which squares become weak if this pawn can’t come back?” (prophylactic checklist). -
Handling dynamic gambits as Black
• In the Benko loss to Savas Marin Stoica you accepted material but fell behind in development.
• Study typical Benko ideas: …a6-a5 break, pressure on the a1–h8 diagonal, and the exchange-up endgames Black often steers for.
→ Create a mini-repertoire file with 3–4 tabiyas and common resource moves; drill them with spaced-repetition flashcards. -
Time management in sharp positions
• Several defeats occur around move 25–35 with <15 s on your clock.
→ Adopt a “no-think zone” of 15–20 s per move until move 20; bank the extra minute for the critical middlegame. -
End-game calculation
• The Ruy Lopez loss vs. maciejpodgorski1998 featured rook activity you underestimated.
→ Weekly drill: convert four rook-endgame studies (especially active rook behind passed pawn themes).
Opening snapshot
| As White | As Black |
|---|---|
|
• 1.e4 mainstay with Sicilian sidelines (3.Bc4, 6.g3 ideas) • Add a solid back-up (e.g. Anti-Sicilian 3.Bb5+) for opponent prep diversity. |
• Sicilian Scheveningen / Accelerated Dragon structures • Benko Gambit & Benoni appear—make sure you know the typical exchange sacs and the importance of dark-square control. |
Training plan (4-week micro-cycle)
- Week 1: 30 tactical motifs per day (especially forks & zwischenzugs); annotate the loss to levente_k without engines.
- Week 2: Build your Benko Black file; watch two model games by Vachier-Lagrave on the white side to understand what to avoid.
- Week 3: Endgame Sunday—solve 10 rook-and-pawn studies; play 10 5 | 5 endgames starting from equal rook endings vs. computer.
- Week 4: Practice “slow-fast” time control (15 | 10) focusing on not dropping below 60 s before move 30.
Game of the month to revisit
Study the attack in your latest win—look for improvements for the opponent to future-proof your repertoire.
Progress monitoring
• Track your results with these live views:
Quick mental checklist (stick next to your monitor)
- “What changed?” after every forcing move (captures, checks, pawn pushes).
- “Which of my pieces is worst? Improve or trade it.”
- “If I move this pawn, which square becomes weak?”
- 30-second rule: if I’m under 30 s, play safe/solid unless I see a forced win.
Keep up the great work and stay curious. One disciplined month and 2500 is within reach!